Device for opening packages and other wrappings



Jan. 16, 1934 H {RMSCHER ET AL 1,943,732

DEVICE FOR OPENING PACKAGES AND OTHER WRAPPINGS Filed Dec. 1, 1931 4Sheets-Sheet l BY ,0 @I L 7 3? ATTORNEY Jan. 16, 1934. H, lRM ER Er AL 1,943,732

DEVICE FOR OPENING PACKAGES AND OTHER WRAPPINGS Filed Dec. 1, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 7/005 lrmscer f Geo/y'eL Bad fig ATTORNEY Jan. 16,1934. 5 AL 1,943,732

DEVICE FOR OPENING PACKAGES AND OTHER WRAPPINGS Filed Dec. 1, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 7/0/15 lrmsafier fG'eogyzLBudf/g/ ATTORNEY Jan. 16, 1934- H. IRMSCHER ET AL 1,943,732

DEVICE FOR OPENING PACKAGES AND OTHER WRAPPINGS Filed Dec. 1, 1931 "4 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY J- W j ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 16, 1934 DEVICE FOR OPENING PACKAGES AND OTHER WRAPPINGS Hans Irmscher and George L. Buckley, New York, N. Y.

Application December 1, 1931. Serial No.- 578,384

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to package and carton opening devices and embodies, more specifically, an improved mechanism for cutting through a package, such as cellophane wrapped cigarettes. The recent trend of wrapping cigarettes and other articles in packages which are in turn wrapped in cellophane is objectionable in that the cellophane is difficult to tear. As a result, the package or carton is not readily opened and the desirable characteristics of wrapping packages with substances, such as cellophane, is partially offset by this disadvantage. An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a device for opening cigarette packages and the like which are wrapped in cellophane in a convenient fashion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character wherein cutting means is conveniently operated to open, effecg0 tively, packages wrapped with cellophane and the like.

Further objects, not specifically enumerated above, will be apparent as the invention is described in greater detail in connection with the 5 accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package which has been opened by a machine constructed in accordance with the present'invention, the package being represented as that of cigarettes.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of one form of mechanism for opening packages in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective View showing a modifled form of cutting instrument for opening packages in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation, showing a completed device for opening packages constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 5 is a View in front elevation showing the device of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a plan view showing the device of Figures 4 and 5.

Figure '7 is a view in section, taken on line 7-7 of Figure 5, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing the mechanism moved into a position wherein the package has been cut for opening in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 9 is a view in section, taken on line 9-9 of Figure 7, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to Figure 1, a suitably wrapped package 10 of cigarettes or other merchandise which is provided with an outer wrapper of cellophane is shown as having one side of the top thereof cut to adapt it to be folded back to form a tab 11. p This tab may be of any depth de pending upon the extent of cutting performed by the device and is adapted to be readily moved into an open or closed position as desired.

In Figure 2, one form of cutting mechanism is shown as consisting of a rotating disc 12 mounted upon a shaft 13 which is rotated inany suitable fashion. The package 10 is moved in the direction of the straight arrow of Figure 2, while the shaft 13 is rotated in the direction of the curved arrow of Figure 2. The cutting of the package which results is illustrated in Figure 1, as discussed in detail above.

In Figure 3, the package is adapted to be cut by means of a straight cutting edge 14 which may be provided by a razor blade 15 or other suitable blade. In order that the cutting operation may be more effective, a shearing action is performed by movement of the blade 15 in the direction shown by the right hand arrow of Figure 3 while the package is moved in the direction shown by the left hand arrows of this figure.

As an embodiment of the invention in one form of mechanism, the device shown in Figures 4, 5,

6, '7, 8, and 9 illustrates one form of opening: device. This device will be seen as including a base 16 upon which spaced brackets 1'7 are formed. Between brackets 1'7, a shaft 18 is mounted, a recessed member 19 being iournaled upon the shaft 18 by means of suitable brackets 20 formed thereon, the brackets being formed with aligned apertures to receive the shaft 18. A spring 21 is mounted on the shaft 18 and serves to hold the recessed member 19 in the position shown in Figure 4 at which time a Web 22 formed thereon engages a limit stop 23. Pivotal m o-ve merit of recessed member 19 about the shaft 18 may thus be effected, such movement being resisted yieldingly by the spring 21.

An L-shaped arm 24 is journaled upon the shaft 18 and normally held in the position shown in Figure 4 by means of a spring 25. A handle 26 is formed on the arm to facilitate the manipulation thereof and the arm 24 is provided with a bifurcated extension 27, between the bifurcations of which a rib 28 is received. Rib 28 is formed upon a lid 29 which is hinged upon the rib 22 by means of ears 30. These ears are hinged at 31 to the upper extremities of ribs 22. The rib 28 is formed with a slot 32 through which a pin 33 extends. The pin is secured in the ends of the bifurcation 27 and thus affords a sliding connection between the lid 29 and arm 24 to permit relative movement therebetween when each moves upon its own pivot. Downward movement of the handle 26 thus causes the lid 29 to close the recessed member 19, after which closing further movement of the handle causes movement of the receptacle about the shaft 18.

Upon one side of the base 16, a side plate 34 is provided, this side plate being provided with spaced pins 35 and a spacing plate 36 upon which a razor blade 3'7, or other instrument having a cutting edge is mounted. A plate 38 serves as a keeper and is formed with a shoulder 39 and a blade receiving notch 40 to engage the blade 37 and force it against the plate 36. A tap 41 provided with a head 42 passes through the side plate 34 and secures the keeper 38 effectively in position against the blade. The foregoing structure will be seen to space the blade 37 from the adjacent wall of the side plate 34 as clearly shown in Figure 9 and, upon downward movement of the recessed member 19, the cutting edge of the plate 37 engages the adjacent end of the package within the recessed member and causes the package to be cut as shown in Figure 1.

In order that the cutting may take place in a proper manner, it is necessary that the package be urged against the side plate 34 in order that the cutting edge may penetrate the sides of the package below the thickness of the top. Such condition is insured by the provision of a pressure plate 43 which is journaled upon a shaft 44, mounted in the opposite sides of one end of the recessed member 19. An ear 45 is formed on the plate and is adapted to be engaged by an arm 46 in the final closing movement of the lid 29 upon the recessed member 19. The arm 46 may be yielding and during such final closing movement,

moves the plate 43 into the recessed member to force a package which may be inserted therein to the left, as viewed in Figure 5. In this fashion, the proper cutting of the package is insured.

The operation of the device will be seen from Figures 7 and 8, wherein the package has been shown as having been inserted within the recessed member and the lid closed preparatory to movement of the recessed member in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure '7. Such movement of the recessed member stops at the position shown in Figure 8 at which time the cutting operation has been perfected.

It will thus be seen that a device has been provided whichis adapted to open wrapped packages effectively without damaging the contents thereof, the construction being such that the opening of the package is accomplished effectively by the cutting operation described hereinabove.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited, save as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A package opening device comprising a base, a cutting device on the base, a package receiving receptacle on the base, means to move the receptacle toward the cutting device in the plane of the device and at an angle to the cutting edge thereof, means to hold a package in the receptacle, and means to urge a package in the receptacle in a direction across the cutting device.

2. A package opening device comprising a base, a cutting device on the base, a package receiving receptacle on the base, means to move the receptacle toward the cutting device and in the plane thereof, means operated by the last named means to hold a package in the receptacle, and means operated by the receptacle moving means to urge a package in the receptacle in a direction across the cutting device.

3. A package opening device comprising a base, a cutting device on the base, a package receiving receptacle, a shaft on the base for journalling the receptacle, a manually operated lever journalled on the base, a closure pivoted on the receptacle, and a lost motion connection between the manually operated lever and the closure.

4. A package opening device comprising a base, a cutting device on the base, a package receiving receptacle, a shaft on the base for journalling the receptacle, a manually operated lever journalled on the base, a closure pivoted on the receptacle, a lost motion connection between the manually operated lever and the closure, and means operated by the manually operated lever to urge a package in the receptacle against one end thereof.

5. A package opening device comprising a base, a cutting device on the base, a package receiving receptacle, a shaft on the base for journalling the receptacle, a manually operated lever journalled on the base, a closure pivoted on the receptacle, a lost motion connection between the manually operated lever and the closure, and yielding means operated by the manually operated lever to urge a package in the receptacle against one end thereof.

6. A package opening device comprising a base formed with a side plate, a cutting blade secured in spaced relation to the plate, a package receiving receptacle, a shaft on the plate, means to journal the receptacle on the shaft for movement toward the blade, a manually operated lever journalled on the base, a closure pivoted on the receptacle, a lost motion connection between the manually operated lever and the closure, a pressure plate journalled at one end in the receptacle, and means actuated by movement of the manual means to move the pressure plate into the receptacle.

HANS IRMSCHER. GEORGE L. BUCKLEY. 

